| January |
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Orchis italica Poir.(Naked Man Orchid)
Family: Orchidaceae, Genus: Orchis
North of Esenteperan, North Cyprus
Orchidaceae is widely distributed not only in the tropics but also in the
semi-arid Mediterranean coast. This species is called "Naked Man's
Orchid'' in English, and the reason is...When you look at the flower with
a magnifying glass, you can see a small protrusion hanging out between
the deeply lobed, foot-like petals.
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| February |
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Ophrys kotschyi H.Fleischm. & Soó (Bee orchid)
Family: Orchidaceae, Genus: Ophrys
Antiphonitis church, North Cyprus
Orchid is the last runner of angiosperms, the last species to appear. They
have been engaged in fierce competition for survival with their predecessors,
and have flourished using methods that seem intelligent. This species tricks
male bees by making their petals resemble those of female bees, allowing
them to carry pollen.
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| March |
|
Anemone coronaria L.
Family: Ranunculaceae,. Genus: Anemone
Mt. Melon, Israel
Coronaria means crown. This is because a white ring forms in the center
of the flower. It is not present in young flowers, but appears when the
pollen matures. Just like Erythronium, it is a spring ephemeral that disappears
from the earth when the trees spread their leaves.
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| April |
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Cyclamen persicum Mill.
Family: Primulaceae, Genus: Cyclamen
Mt. Melon, Israel
It blooms with its petals curved as much as possible, like a Erythronium.
In Japan, it blooms from early winter to early spring and is also called
“kagaribi” flower (means fire torch flower). It is native to the eastern
Mediterranean, and has spring and autumn blooms, with a wide variety of
colors ranging from white to deep pink.
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| May |
|
Iris mariae Barbey (Negev iris)
Family: Iridaceae, Genus: Iris
Northern Negev, Israel
Japanese Iris, such as Iris Barbey, is common near water, but most of the world's irises grow on dry land. A member of this species (Onchocyclus section) is found in the eastern Mediterranean. It is also sold in Japanese flower shops under the name of the German iris.
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| June |
|
Potentilla matsumurae var. apoiensis Toyok.
("Apoi kimbai")
Family Rosaceae, Genus Potentilla
Mt. Apoi, Samani-cho, Hokkaido.
In the Hidaka Mountains, there are several mountains where peregrine rock,
which used to lie deep in the earth, is exposed. Strongly basic rocks hinder
plant development, allowing special plants to grow. Mt. Apoi is a representative
of this, and is a treasure trove of endemic species such as the Apoi chrysanthemum.
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| July |
|
Meconopsis punicea Maxim. (Red alpine poppy)
Family: Papaveraceae, Genus: Meconopsis
Mt. Chisao, Jiuzhi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China
The flower colors of the blue poppy family (Meconopsis genus) are not limited to blue, but include purple, white, and yellow. Only this species has red color. It is distributed in western China's Sichuan and Qinghai provinces, and when we see them from a distance, they look like the Chinese flag flying.
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| August |
|
Meconopsis racemosa Maxim.
Family: Papaveraceae, Genus: Meconopsis
Mt. Laozhe, Wengda County, Sichuan Province, China
This is the masterpiece of the blue color of its flowers. The name derives from the raceme (racemos) in which the flower emerges from the stem, but unlike the definition of raceme which flowers from the bottom, this Meconopsis blooms from the tip.
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| September |
|
Polygala tatarinowii Regel
("Hinamo-kinchaku")
Family: Polygalaceae, Genus: Polygala
Abukuma-do Cave, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture
The height is about 15 cm, and the height of the inflorescence is as same
as the size of a small finger. The fruit, which is 2 to 3 mm long, is attached
to the bottom of the inflorescence, and the Japanese name comes from its
shape, which resembles a coin purse ("kinchaku"). Widely distributed
in Southeast Asia and Japan, it grows on limestone cliffs.
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| Octomber |
|
Ainsliaea dissecta Franch. et Savat.
("Enshu haguma")
Family: Asteraceae, Genus: Ainsliaea
Bikkuni Hill, Shinjo City, Aichi Prefecture
The inflorescence looks like the wings of a spinning windmill, but in fact
each floret has three corollas, each corollas with five deep incisions,
so it looks like a 15-piece corolla. A Japanese name (haguma) is a implement
used by high-rank priests.
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| November |
|
Gentiana scabra var. buergeri (Miq.) Maxim.
("Rindou")
Family: Gentianaceae, Genus: Gentiana
Makino Botanical Garden, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture.
The Japanese name "Rindow" means a liver of dragon, which is
named after the taste is bitterer than bear's liver. The roots have medicinal
properties for clearing fever and eliminating inflammation. In addition,
it is used in folk medicine for the stomach disease. Dr. Makino gave his
own name to another species of the family, Gentiana makinoi.
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| December |
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Sedum tosaense Makino
("Yahazu mannengusa")
Family: Crassulaceae, Genus: Sedum
Kagamikawa, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture
The species was named by Dr. Tomitaro Makino, who was a pionior of Japanese
taxonomy. This name comes from the small lacinia at the tip of the leaf,
which resembles an arrowhead used to string a bow. Makino also named Sedum
makinoi without lacinia.
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| Back |
|
Lilium callosum Siebold et Zucc. var. flaviflorum Makino ("Kibana nohimeyuri")
Family: Liliaceae, Genus: Lilium
Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
The smallest lily in Japan. Although it is an endangered species, it grows
in grasslands that are moderately managed by humans. In Okinawa, only a
few remain near residence areas. |
